Comments on: Cyclists Riding Two Abreast (Cont.) http://flbikelaw.org/2009/07/cyclists-riding-two-abreast-cont/ Questions, answers and news about Florida bicycle laws and law enforcement Sun, 13 May 2012 12:08:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Geo http://flbikelaw.org/2009/07/cyclists-riding-two-abreast-cont/comment-page-1/#comment-1036 Geo Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:19:16 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=110#comment-1036 You may be asking if the cyclists themselves may be in violation if they are riding double and not impeding other traffic. The 40 inch AASHTO minimum essential operating space for a cyclist is not a statutory width. It is the minimum width that an overtaking driver or others should expect most cyclists to require for normal operation. Some cyclists may require more space depending on many factors, including skill levels, width of the vehicle (three-wheel cycles for example), and road conditions. The distance between cyclists riding two abreast is not specified in the statutes and is determined by the skill levels of the cyclists. Many cyclists are entirely safe and comfortable riding within inches of each other while side by side. The three-foot minimum passing distance in s. 316.083 does not apply to cyclists riding side by side since it refers to drivers overtaking and passing cyclists. "The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle." You may be asking if the cyclists themselves may be in violation if they are riding double and not impeding other traffic.
The 40 inch AASHTO minimum essential operating space for a cyclist is not a statutory width. It is the minimum width that an overtaking driver or others should expect most cyclists to require for normal operation. Some cyclists may require more space depending on many factors, including skill levels, width of the vehicle (three-wheel cycles for example), and road conditions.
The distance between cyclists riding two abreast is not specified in the statutes and is determined by the skill levels of the cyclists. Many cyclists are entirely safe and comfortable riding within inches of each other while side by side.
The three-foot minimum passing distance in s. 316.083 does not apply to cyclists riding side by side since it refers to drivers overtaking and passing cyclists.
“The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle.”

]]> By: Geo http://flbikelaw.org/2009/07/cyclists-riding-two-abreast-cont/comment-page-1/#comment-1034 Geo Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:06:03 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=110#comment-1034 See the other post about Two Abreast here: http://flbikelaw.org/2009/07/cyclists-riding-two-abreast/ These posts will eventually be updated with more information and a better description of the statutes involved. Short answer: Cyclists riding two abreast in a substandard-width lane should not be in violation any more than a single cyclist taking the lane in the same lane. Both could be impeding traffic, and the fact that they are two abreast instead of single file should not matter. Don't take the wording in s. 316.2065 (6) " Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic" out of the context of all the statutes. See the other post about Two Abreast here:

http://flbikelaw.org/2009/07/cyclists-riding-two-abreast/

These posts will eventually be updated with more information and a better description of the statutes involved.

Short answer: Cyclists riding two abreast in a substandard-width lane should not be in violation any more than a single cyclist taking the lane in the same lane. Both could be impeding traffic, and the fact that they are two abreast instead of single file should not matter. Don’t take the wording in s. 316.2065 (6) ” Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic” out of the context of all the statutes.

]]> By: Dana http://flbikelaw.org/2009/07/cyclists-riding-two-abreast-cont/comment-page-1/#comment-1033 Dana Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:04:05 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=110#comment-1033 Question: If a lane is 10 feet wide, and cyclists have a 4 foot wide operating profile, and 3 feet is required between vehicles, according to s. 316.083 Fla. Stat., would cyclists riding two abreast be in violation of either s. 316.2065(6) or 316.083 Fla. Stat.? (i.e. 4' + 4' + 3' = 11' which is less than the available lane width of 10' ). Question: If a lane is 10 feet wide, and cyclists have a 4 foot wide operating profile, and 3 feet is required between vehicles, according to s. 316.083 Fla. Stat., would cyclists riding two abreast be in violation of either s. 316.2065(6) or 316.083 Fla. Stat.? (i.e. 4′ + 4′ + 3′ = 11′ which is less than the available lane width of 10′ ).

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